How local business is effecting positive change at home and interstellar.

On December 14th, 1972, U.S. astronauts lifted off of the lunar surface following the final moon walks of the Apollo program. Now, just short of that 50-year anniversary, NASA is preparing to return. With a schedule net launch date of August 29th, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration is hoping its test flight mission- dubbed Artemis 1- will be the launching of a new age in lunar space activity.

            Following the completion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011, the United States has relied on international and private partners to bring its astronauts into space. Additionally, it has been private corporations and military assets that have launched satellites into earth’s orbit over the last decade. Artemis seeks to be NASA’s reentry to the field.

            The program’s mission: to return humanity to the moon’s surface and eventually set up outposts both in the lunar orbit, on its crust, eventually create the needed infrastructure for possible human explorations to Mars. The goals (and challenges) are undoubtedly- out of this world, but a select few in Martin County have seized the opportunity.

              Though Martin County has long been known as a local tech and development center for aviation, 3 local businesses will soon be able to claim that they have been to the moon. Microwave Components LLC, and Smiths Interconnect America’s Inc. are both contributors and partner collaborators in the development and manufacture of the Orion Space Capsule. C M Tool of Palm City is also a partner in fabrication for the SLS or Space Launch System- the rocket system that will propel Orion to our closest celestial neighbor.

            The Orion Space Capsule is a three-stage crewed capsule with service module and launch abort safety systems. This design is a culmination of lessons learned from the previous 4 major NASA mission series, integrating advanced technologies for capsule control and communications while also returning to the geometrically beneficial design of a capsule atop a rocket. This design provides for a more economical and practical launch system to get the capsule into deep space. The Orion uses more than 45 miles of cables, advanced circuitry and telemetric devices all to operate the most advanced lunar bound craft the world has seen. Microwave Components, LLC, is one of the world’s leading distributors for connectors and adaptors, antennas, bulk cable and cable accessories amongst other products. Smith’s Interconnect America is a product developer and manufacturer for connectivity devices and operational subsystems used in satellites and ground support technology. It is easy to see how these community members would be great fits to partner with NASA and its contractors, to build this space craft.